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Colorado - Wed. 01/28/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW BREAKS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD
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The National Western Stock Show set a new attendance record during its 16-day run in Denver, drawing 750,039 visitors from Jan. 10 to 25 and surpassing the previous high of 726,972 set in 2006. Organizers said the milestone came during the event’s 120th year, though the show was not held consecutively because the 2021 edition was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Opening weekend attendance also set a record, with 118,919 people attending during the first two days. The show’s Auction of Junior Livestock Champions broke records as well, with the Grand Champion Junior Market Steer selling for $320,000 and total auction sales reaching $1,875,500, an increase of $423,000 over the previous record.
Proceeds from auctions and related events support the National Western Scholarship Trust, which awards 120 scholarships annually to students pursuing agriculture, veterinary medicine and rural medicine. The anniversary celebration also marked the opening of the 30-acre Sue Anschutz Rodgers Livestock Center and The Legacy, the stock show’s new headquarters. The next National Western Stock Show is scheduled for Jan. 9 to 24, 2027.
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FRONT RANGE’S LOST CANYON RANCH OPEN SPACE SET TO EXPAND
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Castle Rock is moving to expand its largest open space acquisition after the Town Council unanimously approved pursuing a $1.1 million purchase of 35 additional acres along the southeast edge of Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. The 681-acre property, acquired in 2024 as the town’s biggest open space purchase ever, features creek-fed pine forests, rugged cliffs and a mesa-top landscape similar to nearby Castlewood Canyon State Park. Council members toured the site ahead of the vote, citing expanded public access to scenic views as a key benefit. The added acreage was previously evaluated during the town’s 2023 assessment of Lost Canyon Ranch but was not acquired at that time; it was later purchased by the Guardian Angel Trust, which has agreed to sell it to the town.
A memo describing the parcel notes notable natural resource value, potential archaeological interest, Horse Thief Cave and an access easement across the land. The expansion aligns with a master plan approved last fall that calls for a 15-mile trail network open to hikers only, with no bikes or dogs, consistent with conservation easements and public input favoring low-impact recreation. Pending due diligence, the town expects to close on the purchase April 1, with public access anticipated later this year.
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RTD RAIL SERVICE TO UNION STATION TO BE HALTED FOR MAINTENANCE
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The Regional Transportation District will suspend commuter rail service to and from Denver’s Union Station on the A, B, G and N lines for the weekend to complete federally-required track and infrastructure maintenance. The 48-hour shutdown will take place Saturday and Sunday, with bus shuttles replacing train service between Union Station and the first major outbound stations on each line. Full rail service on all four lines is scheduled to resume Feb. 2.
- On the A Line, shuttles will operate between Union Station and 38th and Blake Station, while trains will continue running between 38th and Blake and Denver International Airport.
- For the B and G lines, shuttles will connect Union Station and 41st and Fox Station, with normal service continuing beyond that point to Westminster on the B Line and Wheat Ridge/Ward Road on the G Line.
- N Line riders will transfer to buses between Union Station and 48th and Brighton/National Western Center Station, with trains resuming from there to Eastlake/124th Station.
RTD advised passengers to expect longer travel times and to check alternate routes and real-time updates during the closure at rtd-denver.com.
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GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL MOVING OUTDOORS FOR FIRST TIME
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The Great American Beer Festival will move outdoors in 2026, shifting from the Colorado Convention Center to Denver’s Levitt Pavilion for a two-day event in October, marking the first time the festival has been held under open skies in its modern form. Organizers said the change is intended to create a more immersive experience that blends the festival’s beer lineup with live music and a relaxed, lawn-based setting. Both venues are owned by the City of Denver and Visit Denver officials said the move reflects broader efforts by large events to reinvent themselves amid economic pressures.
The Brewers Association said the festival will be reduced to two sessions over two days, scheduled for Oct. 10-11 from noon to 4 p.m., instead of the previously announced Oct. 8-10 dates. Tickets will go on sale in June and will cost $60, down from $85 to $95 in 2025. Organizers said the event will be held rain or shine, will continue its Paired food and beer program, and is expected to feature hundreds of breweries. Founded in Boulder in 1982, the festival later moved to Denver and peaked in the early 2010s before attendance declined and formats were adjusted following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COLORADO’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS AGAIN IN DECEMBER
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Colorado’s unemployment rate declined to 3.8 percent in December, continuing a months-long downward trend, according to new data released by the Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment. The rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point from November, matching a similar decline in the national unemployment rate, which dropped to 4.4 percent. State data show Colorado’s unemployment rate peaked at 4.8 percent in May. The number of unemployed residents decreased by about 2,000 over the month to 123,800, while the state’s labor force also shrank, falling by 3,300 people to roughly 3.26 million. Labor force participation slipped to 66.9 percent, the lowest level since October 2020, though it remains above the national average of 62.4 percent.
Colorado added 1,200 jobs in December, pushing total employment above 3 million by the end of 2025. Education and health services led gains with 2,800 new jobs, followed by manufacturing with 1,400, while leisure and hospitality lost 2,300 jobs and trade, transportation and utilities declined by 1,800. CDLE said upcoming labor reports may be delayed because of a federal government shutdown affecting data releases.
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COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE TRUSTEES APPROVE TUITION INCREASE FOR 2026
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Colorado Mountain College trustees unanimously approved an inflation-based tuition increase for the 2026–27 academic year during a Jan. 20 meeting at the college’s Vail Valley campus. Beginning in August 2026, in-district tuition will rise by $3 per credit hour to $110, in-state tuition will increase by $6 per credit hour to $220, and non-resident tuition will increase by $15 per credit hour to $560. The increase reflects an anticipated inflation rate of 2.8 percent. Trustees also approved a differential tuition rate of $79 per credit for nursing, dental hygiene and radiologic technology programs due to higher instructional costs.
In addition, the board approved increases to some room and board, learning materials and course-specific fees, though not all fees will rise. College officials said CMC is expected to remain among the most affordable institutions in the state and nation. Trustees also authorized one-time $50,000 concurrent enrollment grants to each of the nine school districts in the college’s service area to help maintain access to free college credits, noting that about 43 percent of CMC students are concurrently enrolled high school students.
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ASPEN CITY COUNCIL SELECTS FINALISTS FOR 455 RIO GRANDE PLACE
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Aspen City Council has narrowed the field to four restaurant concepts for the city-owned space at 455 Rio Grande Place, formerly occupied by Yogi’s. The city is seeking an affordable, family-friendly restaurant with proven local experience to lease the subsidized, below-market space. From 12 applications, councilors selected 520 Grill, Bamboo Bear, Jaffa, and Masala and Curry to advance to final interviews at the Feb. 2 council meeting, when a lease award is expected. While the selections were nearly unanimous, some councilors raised concerns about whether Masala and Curry’s concept would best serve families and children who frequent the area.
Council members also questioned proposed menu pricing, emphasizing that the subsidized space should allow operators to offer lower prices than in non-subsidized locations. The finalists represent a mix of existing Aspen restaurants, revived local concepts and down-valley operators, each proposing menus generally priced from the low teens to mid-$20 range.
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HAERLE NAMED CLUB 20 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PLEDGES MORE AGGRESSIVE ADVOCACY
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Wade Haerle has been hired as the new executive director of Club 20, the 22‑county Western Slope coalition, with plans to reinvigorate the organization by taking a louder, more confrontational approach to holding elected and appointed officials accountable. Haerle, a former Club 20 membership director in the 1990s, said the nonpartisan group will continue to focus on Western Slope priorities while being more forceful when state or federal decisions negatively affect the region. His immediate top priority is building support for State Initiative No. 175, which would reinstate the so‑called Noble Bill by directing sales tax revenue from vehicle‑related purchases into the state’s Highway Users Tax Fund for road investment.
Haerle also plans to expand Club 20’s role in hosting political debates, including primary debates for governor, U.S. Senate and the 3rd Congressional District, and to revive the Club 20 Education and Research Foundation. Over the longer term, he outlined a five‑year goal of reestablishing Western Colorado as a major energy hub, arguing that new power generation should be located in communities that have historically hosted energy infrastructure. Club 20 also announced the hiring of Andrea Wilson as chief operating officer to oversee internal operations and member engagement.
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SHEPHERD’S HAND TO CLOSE FOOD PANTRY, REDIRECT CLIENTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES
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Shepherd’s Hand in Montrose will close its food pantry for housed clients on Jan. 26, redirecting those individuals to Sharing Ministries and Grace Center as part of a coordinated effort to reduce duplication of services and better use limited resources. Director Miriam Cardenas said the change allows Shepherd’s Hand to repurpose pantry space at its 505 S. Second St. facility for expanded seating and computer workstations to support job and housing searches. Core services will continue, including weekday hot breakfasts and lunches, food bags for the unhoused, showers, laundry access, clothing distribution and meal preparation for Region 10’s senior program.
Sharing Ministries, a longtime food bank serving Montrose and surrounding counties, and Grace Center, a mission of Grace Community Church focused on helping housed residents avoid becoming unhoused, will take over pantry services for Shepherd’s Hand clients. All three organizations receive food through Food Bank of the Rockies. The shift follows other recent changes at Shepherd’s Hand, including its merger with the Montrose Lighthouse emergency shelter, as the nonprofit continues to navigate tight funding while maintaining stable service levels.
- Shepherd’s Hand: 505 S. Second St.; open 7:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday; hot breakfast, 8 to 9 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 970-275-7215; shepherdshandmontrose.org
- Grace Center: 11 S. Park Ave.; open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday; serves housed residents; 970-901-6134; gracecolorado.net/the-grace-center
- Sharing Ministries: 49 N. First St.; open 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; serves Montrose and surrounding counties; 970-240-8385; sharingministries.com
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YAMPA VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT SET FOR SPRING GROUNDBREAKING ON $86M TERMINAL EXPANSION
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Yampa Valley Regional Airport is preparing to break ground this spring on an $86 million terminal expansion that will nearly double the size of the existing facility and add four jet bridges, with completion targeted for spring 2028. Airport Director Tinneal Gerber told local officials that final design documents are complete and moving through permitting, with construction contracts expected to be finalized in April and work beginning in late April or early May. The two-year project will be phased to keep the airport fully operational through two peak winter seasons.
The expansion responds to rapid growth, with annual passenger traffic rising from about 150,000 before the pandemic to more than 450,000 today. Plans call for adding roughly 60,000 square feet on two levels, including expanded baggage handling, upgraded TSA screening, two full-size outbound carousels and four new hold rooms with jet bridges, a first for the airport. The project will be funded through a mix of airport reserves, revenue bonds and grants, with officials emphasizing that no local tax dollars will be used.
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BIG NAMES IN OPERA, CHAMBER & ORCHESTRAL MUSIC HEAD TO THE FRONT RANGE
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This winter and early spring are shaping up as an especially strong season for classical music on Colorado’s Front Range, with nationally and internationally recognized performers appearing in venues ranging from concert halls to movie theaters. The lineup spans film‑with‑live‑music events, intimate piano and chamber concerts, major orchestral performances and high‑profile opera broadcasts, offering accessible entry points for newcomers alongside marquee events for longtime classical fans.
- Philip Glass Ensemble, Jan. 31, Boettcher Concert Hall: The ensemble performs Philip Glass’s landmark score to Koyaanisqatsi live alongside the film, presented by the Colorado Symphony in a concert that blends minimalist music with iconic visuals.
- Zlata Chochieva, Feb. 5, Newman Center: The Russian pianist brings a demanding solo recital featuring works by Beethoven, Schumann, Bartók, Bach, Sibelius, Scriabin and Liszt, highlighting her reputation for adventurous programming.
- Will Liverman, Feb. 27, Ellie Caulkins Opera House: The acclaimed baritone headlines Opera Colorado’s anniversary gala concert, with tickets open to the public at accessible prices during the company’s shortened season.
- Owl String Quartet, March 1, Lakewood Cultural Center: Friends of Chamber Music presents the young ensemble in a suburban venue, featuring an exploratory program that includes music by Terry Riley and Boulder‑based composer Annika Socolofsky.
- Lang Lang with the Colorado Symphony, March 14, Boettcher Concert Hall: The superstar pianist appears for a one‑night‑only performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 under the baton of Peter Oundjian.
- Tristan and Isolde, March 21, Met in HD: Wagner’s epic opera is broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, starring soprano Lise Davidsen and conducted by Yannick Nézet‑Séguin, with screenings at movie theaters across the region.
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DATA CENTERS ARE COMING TO COLORADO. CAN THE PARCHED STATE HANDLE THEIR BIG WATER NEEDS?
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As data centers expand across Colorado to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, experts warn the facilities could place new strain on water and energy systems in an already arid state. While Colorado currently hosts mostly smaller data centers, the rapid rise of AI has increased the need for large, energy intensive computing infrastructure that requires significant cooling. Many data centers rely on water-based cooling systems tied to municipal supplies or private water rights, raising concerns about competition with existing users — particularly agriculture, the state’s largest water consumer.
Beyond direct water use, data centers also drive higher electricity demand, which carries additional, often overlooked water costs through power generation. State regulators, utilities and lawmakers are now weighing how to manage growth, protect ratepayers and ensure transparency as competing legislative proposals seek either to attract data centers with incentives or impose stricter environmental standards.
- Rising energy demand: Major electric utilities in Western states, including Colorado, are forecasting a 4.5 percent annual increase in energy demand between 2025 and 2035. The U.S. Dept. of Energy estimates that the national data center electricity load has tripled over the past decade and could double or triple again by 2028.
- Growing water use: On-site water use at data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah is projected to increase by about 21,600 acre-feet by 2035. When off-site water use from power plants is included, total water demand tied to data centers could exceed 89,700 acre-feet.
- What an acre-foot means: One acre-foot equals roughly 325,900 gallons of water, or the annual water use of two to four urban households.
- Conservation comparison: In 2024, the federal government paid water users — mostly farmers — more than $28.6 million to complete 110 conservation projects in the Colorado River Basin, saving 63,631 acre-feet of water, less than the projected total water footprint of data centers by 2035.
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MARKET UPDATE - 01/27/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 01/22/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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